Ever since 2003 when Mars made its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years and loomed large in the sky with its glorious red shine, every August our email boxes fill with well-meaning messages from friends determined to inform us of this spectacular event.  While technically not a hoax, this has become more of an urban legend.  

NASA sets the record straight once again.   There are lots of exciting things in the sky, including a conjunction of Venus and Mars, but this isn’t one of them.